Domaine Montanet-Thoden Galerne 2012

Made with 100% Chardonnay. All grapes are harvested by hand and undergo natural fermentation with indigenous yeasts, no fining, vinification and élevage entirely in stainless steel, fermentation can last up to one month. Vines planted in mid-90s, early 2000s.

Valentin Montanet is the son of Jean Montanet of Domaine de la Cadette. In 2000 his mother, Catherine, and associate Tom Thoden started Domaine Montanet-Thoden, with vineyards inherited from Catherine's family. When he received his degree in 2010, Valentin returned to Vezelay and joined his mother at Montanet-Thoden, where he has now taken over much of the responsibility. Fully confident in the natural, traditional approach that Catherine had established from the start, he maintained the methods and standards used by both of his parents to fashion fresh, succulent wines. The higher proportion of clay in the Montanet-Thoden vineyards gives wines with a bit more structure than those of La Cadette, but Valentin continues to work closely and consult with both Catherine and Jean, so the family style and pedigree shines through.